Diaphragm cutoff valve



July 28, 1942.

l.. M.. PlaRsoNs DIAPHRAGM' CUT-'OFF VALVE Filed Jan. 3, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 28, 1942. M, PERsoNs 2,291,504

DIAPHRAGM CUT-OFF VALVE n Filed Jan. 3, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3- 2e 2@ '3938 3" f@ 35 www i LAWRENCE M. PEEO/V,

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HrroR/VEK vIntima-"il- UNITED [STATESv PA'IENf'I- OFFICE 'l*'z.z91,so4f- "Y nmrnnaorr curorr vsLvr. Lawrence M. 'Persons-,fst louis County, Ho., assignor to Automatic Control Corporation, St. Louis, Mo.,a' corporation of Delaware i y Application January s, .1939; serial No.' 249,031

- comms. (ci. iai-ias) I'he present invention relates generally to y valves, and more particularly to electrically-actuated diaphragm on-and-off gas valves.v

The lower erally circular in `plan view (Fig. 8) and in- An object of the present invention is to provide a novel electrically-actuated diaphragm on-and-ofi valve.

Another object is to provide a novel electrically-actuated diaphragh on-and-oi valve which includes manual means for throwing into operation the electrical actuating means.

Another object is to provide a, novel on-and- A oir gas valve which includes novel electrical actuating means. l

Another object-isito provide a novel on-and-o gasvalve lwhich is'adapted to be opened upon the closing of an electric circuit either by a thermostat or manually. v

Another object is to provide a novel en -and` oft' gas valve which includes electrical actuating means adapted to be manually energized and automatically deenergized.

Another object is to provide a simple, compact and sturdy electrically-controlled diaphragm onand-off gas valve which is adaptedlto fulfill` all of the, 'objects and advantages sought therefor. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken in cona portion of an elongated conduit 30 (Figs. 3

cludes a bowl-shapedvchamber 2t in to which leads an inlet chamber 28. A gaspipe section 2l (Figs. 8 and 9)..1eads .into the inlet chamber 26 through an aperture 28 in awall of the lower section 23. The inlet chamber. is defined by e openings 38 in opposed walls of the inlet chanjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

Fig. 1 is a plan :view of a valve constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the valve shown in Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a side view of thev valve shownin Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow A; Fig. 4 is an end view of the valve shown in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow B; 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a section on the line B-E of Figs. 1

l and5; l Fig. 'l is a section on the line ll-'l of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3; Fig.l9 isa section on the'line 9-9 of Figs. 1 and 5; and l Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections and the movable parts of the valve directly associated therewith.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 2li indicates generally a valve constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention. The valve lincludes a casing 2l comprising an upper section 22 and a lower section 23, between the adjacent peripheries of which is a ilexlble diaphragm `24.

ber 26 are closed by removable threaded plugs 39. The diaphragm 24. supports a valve 4I which is adapted to seat on .the valve seat 86 (Figs. 6 y

and 9). 'I'he valve 4I includes a large metal disc 42 having a turned-up periphery 43 which is disposed against'the upper surface of the diaphragm 24. An annular member is disposed against the under surface ofthe diaphragm 24. A resilient disc 4 6 is disposed-against the side of the member 44 remote from the diaphragm 24, .being maintained in position by a small disc 41, Nut and bolt assemblages 4l maintain the plates v 42 and 41;themember- V44,` and the resilient disc 48 in assembled relation with the diaphragm 24. It is evident that the valve 4Il when seated closes oi! the inlet chamber 28 and the chamber 2l from the outlet sump 33.v

Thenpper section 22 ofthe casing 2i includes a lower chamber Il (Fig. 6), the .lower wall of .'which is deiined by the diaphragm 24 when the valve 2li -is in assembled relation, and upper chambers 5I and 52 (Fig. 5). -Thelowerchamlined by end walls 54, an exteriorly disposed side wall '55, an interiorly disposed side wall It. a portion of the wall 52, and a .portion of a cover plate 5l. 'I'he chamber 5211s defined by end walls 60, which are a. continuation of -the' end walls, anexteriorly disposed side wall OI, the interiorly disposed wall 56, `a portion ofthe wall 5.3, and a portion ci the cover plate il. 'I'he cover plate '61 is removably secured to the ver tical dening walls ofthe chambers Il and (I2 'section n of thecasmg u is gen-f by screws 62, being sealed in respect to the aforevsaid walls by a gasket 53.

A shaft 55 isjournaled in an enlargement 66 formed integral with the common wall 58, and

extends across one end of the chambers and 52. An aperture 81 is provided in the wall 6| (Figs. 3 and 5) for the insertion of the shaft 65 therethrough into its journaled relation with the enlargement 66. A lever 1.0 is fixed to a fiattened portion 1| of the shaft 55 by a screw 12, being disposed in the chamber 5|. A disc valve 13 is loosely connected to the-free end ofthe Cil lever10 by an integral projection 14, or the like (Flg. 9). 'Ihe valve 13 cooperates with a valve seat 15 which leads to a passage 16. The lever 10 is of bisectional construction and includes the two sections 18 and 19 (Fig. 9) connected by rivets 80, or the like.- The section 19 includes an opening 8| for a purpose to be described.

A heat expansible strip 84 of sectional construction, including sections 85 and 86 (Figs. 5 f and 6), is fixed to another flattened portion 81 of the shaft 55 by a screw '88, being disposed in chamber .52. The free end of the section 98 is bufurcated to form legs 90 which straddle a screw 9| extending vertically from the horizontal wall 53. An adjustable rider 92 threadedly engages the screw 9| and abuts the legs 90. The section 86 of the bimetallic strip 84 also includes a lateral projection 93. A11-insulator 95 is connected to the projection 93, a reduced portion thereof extending through an aperture in,the

Qprojection 93- and being held' in position by a resilient ring V96 engaged in a groove in the insulator 95. A heater coil 91I has one end secured to the insulator 95 by a rivet'98, the other end of the 'heater coil 91 being soldered at 99 to the heat expansible strip 84.

:asiento-1.-

Midway between the ends of the blade |24 there is fixed thereto a contact |25. An angle extension |28 is xed to the terminal post III within the chamber 52, and supports a contact |29 in a position to be engaged by the contact |25.

A lead |30 has one end fixed by a rivet' |3I,

I light connection |35.

'Ihe chamber 50 is at all times in seepage coml munication with the chamber 25 through a vbypass |31. The bypass 31 includes a passage |38 (Fig. 7), which leads from the chamber'50 into a defining wall, a communicating passage |39 in a defining wall of the chamber 25, there being a. suitable aperture |40 in the diaphragm 24 to permit communication, and a small passage |4| which leads from the passage |39 into the chamber 25.

In Fig. 10 there is shown diagrannnaticallyl the electrical actuating mechanism and the associated movable elements.. The leads |20 and A shaft |00 (Fig 5) is journaled in an enlargement |0| formed integral with the common wall 55. The shaft |00 extends through an aperture in the wall 6| and terminates exteriorly of the chamber 52 in a handle portion |03. 'Ihe shaft |00 extends beneath the lever 10 and the bimetallic member 84 and extends across the ends of the chambers 5| and 52 remote from the shaft 65. A spring |04 is -iixed to the interiorly disposed end of the shaft 00, the free end |05 of |05.` The spring 04 biases the shaft |00 into the position shown in Fig. 5. A pin |05 is fixed to the shaft |00 beneath the lever 10 and includes a reduced free end which is adapted to the spring |04 being crimped over avshoulder move intothe opening 8| upon manual -rotation of the shaft |00. A second pin 0 (Fig. 6) -is xd to the shaft |00 adjacent the wall 6| for a purpose to be described. A stop (Figi 9) formed integral with the wall 53 is engageable by the pin |03 to limit the counter.

clockwise rotation .of the shaft |00.

A panel ||2 of insulative material (Figs. 3 and 5) is xed to the wall 6| in a manner to close a space in the wall 6|. Four terminal posts ||3,

||4, ||5, and ||5 are xed to the panel ||2 and to by rivets |25, or the like. The switch'blade |24 extends parallel with the panel ||2 andover- `supports a resilient switch'blade |24 fixed therelies to normally contact the -pin ||0 (Fig. 6). 75

|2| are connected to a secondary |45 of a transformer, the primary of which is not shown. The lead ||9 is connected to a movable contact |46 of a room thermostat |41. The lead 8 is connected to a fixed contact |48 ofthe thermostat |41. The remainingdetaiis of Fig. 10 are sumciently described above so that additional detailed explanation here is unnecessary for a clear understanding of. the disclosure.

Operation In the typical installation, the gas valve 20 is located in a gas line leading to the gas burner of a heating plant. The terminals ||3, ||4, ||5, and ||6 are connected to a transformer and to a room thermostat as indicated in Fig. 10.

If it be assumed that the thermostat |41 is in the open or non-heat demand relation illustrated in Fig. 10, then the valve 13 is in engagement with its seat 15 (Fig. 9) and the valve 4| is in engagement withfits seat 35, omitting consideration of the transition period positions of the elements of the gas valve 20.4 The chamber 50 andthe chamber 25 are filled with gas at substantially the -same pressure, the' gas passinginto the chamber 50 from the chamber 25 by means of the bypass |31 (Fig. '1) and being retained in'the chamber 50 and the superposed chamber 5| by the closed valve 13. With gas above and below the diaphragmr24, therefore, at substantially the same pressure, the valve 4| remains closed through the effect of its own weight.

` When the temperature of the space in which the thermostatl |41 is located falls to a predetermined degree, the movable contact |46 closes with the fixed contact |48 (Fig. 10) which closes an electrical circuit from the fixed contact |48 r consecutively through the lead ||8, the terminal post ||3, the extension |22, the lead |30, the heat'expansible member 84, the heater coil 91, the lead |32, the terminal post H6, the-lead 2|, the transformer secondary |45, the lead |20, the terminal post H5, the lead |34, the terminal post ||4, the lead-| I9, and back to the movable contact |46. The closing of the etere-enumerated circuit causes the heater coil 91 to heat up.`

'I'he heat expansible member 94 is affected by the heat from the heater coil 91 and bows upwardly (Fig. 6), thereby rotating the shaft 95 counterclockwise. The bowing of the heat expansible member 84 is caused by its elongation resultant of the heat thrownoi by the heating coil 91 and the blocking of simple longitudinal elongafrom its valve seat 15, gas within the chamber' and the chamber 50 escapes by way of the passage 16, the passage |35, the pilot light connection |36, and the pilot line to the pilot flame, since the gas under pressure follows the path of least resistance to atmosphere. The additional gas received by the pilot ame sufficiently. I

Athe outlet chamber 33, whence it passes to the main burner by a suitable piping. Y

The mainburner continues to function to provide heat for the space occupied by the thermostat |41 until the temperature of the space reaches a point effecting separation of the mov- -able contact |46 from the fixed contact |48.

This separation, of course, breaks the electrical circuit and the reverse action to that set out above takes place. The valve 4| does not close immediately upon the separation of the contacts |46 and |48, but does in due course, following the functioning ofthe various elements of the valve 20.

Provision has been made for the manual closing of the electrical circuit in order to ignite the main burner under certain conditions which may conceivablyarise. The shaft |00 with its in Fig. 5 with the pin ||0. beneath the free of the blade |24 (Fig. 6) and the pin |09 in posiiton shown in-Fig. 9. The contacts |26. and |29 are, therefore, in openrelation. When:` the shaft |00 is movedclockwise (Fig. 6), the`ipin ||0 is moved out of contact with the free end ofl the blade` |24, whereupon the contactsJZBand |29 engage. Simultaneously, the pin |09 is moved into engagement with thelever 10 which is thereby pivoted counterclockwise (Fig. 9) to raise the valve 13 from its seat 15.

flame, whereupon the pressure of the gas beneath the diaphragm 24 forces the diaphragm -24 'upwardly (Fig. 9) to unseat the valve 4|. Gas in the main line then passes to the burner which y is ignited by the pilot'fiame.

A closing of the contacts |26 and |29 completesv Gas in the chainbers 5| and 50`immediately exhausts to the pilot an electrica circuit (rig-1o) ucm-the. exea contact |29 successively through the extension |29 which suppcrts the iixcd ccm-.act m, the tcr-- :V minal post ||5, the lead |20, the transformer secondary |45. the lead |2|,.the terminal post H6, the lead |32, the heating coil 91, the heat expansible member 9 4, the lead |30, the terminal post H3, the extension |22, the blade |24, and back to the movable 'contact |29. The heat expansible member 94 -bows in the manner set forth above from heat generated by the heatingl coil 91. The bimetallic member 94 continues to bow until the shaft 95 pivots counterclockwise (Fig. 9). suilcientlv to release the pin |09 from engagement with the opening 80, whereupon the spring |04 pivots the shaft |00 counterclockwise, forcing the pin ||0 under the free end of the blade |24 to break the contacts |29 and |29.

If the thermostat |41 has not meanwhile acted toclose the contacts |46 and |49,.th valve 4| is closed in a reverse manner to that set forth for the opening thereof, since the heat expansible member 94 will co'ol to `reseat the valve 13. If, however, the contacts |46 and |49 have meanwhilebeen closed, the heat expansible member 84 will continue in a bowed-position through the effect of this thermostat circuit until the opening vof the aforesaid -contacts |49 and |49.

It is, of course, contemplated that the particular, shape of .the valve casing 2| and other elements of the valve 20 may be varied within the scope of the claims which limit the present in-Lv vention. The several elements ofthe valve 29 are constructed of materials suitable to 'insure efficient functioning thereof. I

,It is apparent that there has been provided an on-and-oif gas valve of the diaphragm type which is adapted to fulll all of the objects andadvantages' sought therefor.- v

Itis to be understood that the foregoing ydescription and accompanying drawings hav been given by way of illustration and exampe and not for purposes of limitation, the invention being limited only by the`claims which follow.

.What is ciaimedis: -1

1. Amechanism for controlling a diaphragm valve having a chamber communicating with the side of .the diaphragm remote from the normal gas passage comprising electrically controlled means adapted tobe disposed in said chamber f. including a journaled shaft, a leverifixed to said shaft having a valve at-the free end thereof, handle |03 is normally in the positionshown f said valve being adapted to cooperate with a -valve seat initiating a passage leading to the exterior of the casing, a heat expansible member fixed to said shaft, and a heating coil disposed adjacent said heat expansible member, said heat expansible member'being adapted to pivot .said shaft upon the heating" of the heating coil to pivot the lever to unseat the associated valve.

2. A mechanism for controlling a diaphragm valve having a first chamber communicating with the sideof the diaphragm remote from the normalgas passage and a second chamber adjacent said ilrst chamber sealed from the gas .comprising manually actuatable means adaptedvv vto be disposed in said ilrst chamber including a rotatable shaft, a lever fixed to the shaft hav--- ing a valveadjacent thefree end, said valvebeing cooperatively disposed relative to a seat which' initiates a passage leading from the casing tothe outside, electro-thermal means in said second chamber 'for opening and closing said said second shaft including a projection adapted to engage the lever upon rotation ofthe second shaft to pivot the lever to raise the valve from its associated seat.

8. A mechanism for controlling a diaphragm valve having a first chamber communicating with the side of the diaphragm remote from the ynormal gas passage and a second chamber adjacent said rst chamber sealed from the gas comprising manually actuatable means adapted to be disposed in said first chamber including a rotatable shaft, a lever fixed to the shaft having a valve adjacent the free end, said valve being cooperatively disposed relative to a seat which initiates a passage leading from the casing to the outside, electro-thermal means in said second chamber for opening and closing said valve, a second pivotally mounted shaft manually actuatable extending beneath the lever, said second shaft including a projection adapted to engage the lever upon manual rotation of the second shaft to pivot the lever to raise the valve from its associated seat, and means for automaticalb releasing the projection from engagement with its lever.

4. A mechanism for controlling al diaphragm valve having a chamber communicating with the side of the diaphragm remote from the normal element, a shaft pivotally mounted in the chamber, a xed connection between the shaft and an arm supporting the valve,va fixed connection the side of the diaphragm remote from the normal gas passage and a second chamber adjacent said first chamber sealed from the gas comprising a valve adapted to be disposed in said first chamber adapted to close in one extreme posishaft having a valve at the free end thereof, said A valve being adapted to cooperate with a valve seat initiating a passage leading to the exterior of the casing, a heat expansible member fixed to said shaft, and a heating coil disposed adjacent said heat expansible memben 'said heat expansible' member being adapted to. pivot said shaft upon the heating of the heatingcoil to pivot the lever to unseat the associated valve, a second shaft ljournaledin said casing extending beneath said leverincluding a projection adapted to contact the lever and to raise its associated valve upon pivotal movement of said second shaft, a switch blade and an associated contact, said secondv shaft including a second projection adapted to maintain said switch blade and assocition of movement a passage leading froml the chamber 4vto atmosphere, a shaft pivotally mounted in the chamber, an arm fixed to said shaft and connected to said valve, electro-thermal means in said second chamber for opening and closing said valve, a second shaft pivoted in the chamber and extending exteriorly thereof, said second shaft extending beneath said arm, a pro-` jection on said second shaft disposed beneath the said arm and adapted to move the arm and therethrough the valve from its seat upon rotation of said second shaft, and means for automatically restoring said second shaft to its initialI valve from its seat, said heat expansible member `being adapted to positively return said valve to its seat after having been raised either through the electro-thermal means or the manual means.

8. A mechanism for controlling a diaphragm valve having a first chamber communicating with the side of thediaphragm remote from the normal gas Apassage and a second chamber adjacent said rst chamber sealed from the gas comprising a valve adapted to be disposed in said first chamber adapted to close in one extreme position of movement a passage leading from the chamber to atmosphere, and electro-thermal means including thermally actuatable means and cooperating electrically actuated heat gving means disposed in said second chamber for opening and closing said valve; c.

LAWRENCE M. PERSONS. 

